–Saturday games
Minnesota Vikings (7-6) at Cincinnati Bengals (7-6): Nick Mullens starts for the 18th time in his career and first with the Vikings, who turn to a fourth QB this season in the thick of a playoff chase in the NFC. Neither team can afford a loss with a logjam of teams with mediocre records surrounding them in the standings. Benched was Josh Dobbs after a punchless offense survived to win 3-0 at Las Vegas in Week 14. Mullens has a stout defense working behind him and All-Pro WR Justin Jefferson (chest) plans to play in a reunion of sorts with former LSU teammate Ja’Marr Chase. Chase had no issues connecting with backup Jake Browning. Browning produced 34 points in each of the past two games and is on a record pace for completion percentage — 75.5 in three starts — while rookie Chase Brown has emerged as a legitimate wingman to Joe Mixon in a more productive backfield.
Pittsburgh Steelers (7-6) at Indianapolis Colts (7-6): A wildcard intersection might become a postseason off-ramp for the loser of this game depending on how dominoes fall Sunday. The Colts lost for the first time since the end of October last week at Cincinnati and cracks are starting to appear in the run defense. Indianapolis has been hit for at least 125 rushing yards in six of the past seven games. Pittsburgh, what with a backup quarterback and milquetoast offense, is primed to deploy a ground-and-pound approach using a conservative running game to back the Steelers’ stout defense. Indianapolis won’t have top back Jonathan Taylor (thumb) again, but the combination of Gardner Minshew and WR Michael Pittman Jr. has been filthy. Pittman has at least eight receptions in six consecutive games.
Denver Broncos (7-6) at Detroit Lions (9-4): Sean Payton brought the Broncos back from the brink of self-combustion by lending a stronger voice to defensive coordinator Vance Joseph. Denver has a string of eight consecutive games holding opponents to 22 or fewer points with 18 takeaways in the past seven games and 15 sacks in the past three. Lions coach Dan Campbell sees the dashboard warning lights, but believes the easy fix to most of what ails Detroit is the turnover battle. The return of safety CJ Gardner-Johnson should spark the secondary, but more consistent play from QB Jared Goff has been the focus for Campbell and offensive coordinator Ben Johnson. Goff threw two picks and was sacked four times in the Lions’ loss at Chicago last week.
–Sunday games
Atlanta Falcons (6-7) at Carolina Panthers (1-12): Before the Falcons check off their rematch with Carolina as a victory, Atlanta must reassess what led to a tie game into the third quarter of their first matchup. Only a turnover turned the tide for the Falcons, who lost 25-15 at Carolina in 2022 and have one division road win (at Tampa) in the past three seasons. To remain in the playoff race, the Falcons can’t afford a loss. Only the NFC South champion is likely to be in the postseason, and Tampa Bay took control of the South with a win at Atlanta last week. Carolina is long way from January football talk, and the focus next month will be finding a new coach who can help turn around the fortunes of the franchise and rookie QB Bryce Young. Young is 30th, last among qualifiers, with a 70.9 QB rating and tied for 24th in with nine TD passes this season.
Chicago Bears (5-8) at Cleveland Browns (8-5): QB Justin Fields has one interception in his past 129 attempts and at least 45 rushing yards in six starts in a row, bringing the Bears back into the peripheral playoff conversation that gains a massive boost with a win at Cleveland. The Browns are down multiple playmakers, including S Grant Delpit (groin), but a strong running game and the rejuvenation of the passing game behind cannon-armed QB Joe Flacco has given Cleveland new life in the AFC North. A line of teams clawing for the same spot in the wild-card standings awaits. With a Christmas Eve trip to Houston followed by a short week of prep for a Jets team that could have Aaron Rodgers back ratchets up the importance of this Week 15 matchup.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-7) at Green Bay Packers (6-7): Tampa Bay took a step forward and owns first place in a three-way tie in the NFC South standings, looking to stretch its winning streak to three games and deal the Packers’ playoff chances a blow in the process. Green Bay feels the same way entering a game that could have wild-card tiebreaker implications. The Packers won three games in a row before losing 24-22 to Tommy DeVito and the New York Giants on Monday night. Packers QB Jordan Love, 25, has been a big reason for the Packers’ recent optimism. In the past four games, he has passed for 1,075 yards, nine touchdowns and one interception while posting an impressive 106.2 passer rating.
New York Jets (5-8) at Miami Dolphins (9-4): The Jets will hear nothing of injury woes out of the first-place Dolphins, who could be without WR Tyreek Hill (ankle) and others on Sunday. The Jets won’t have their QB1 — yet — but Aaron Rodgers is pushing to return this month from an Achilles injury if the Jets are still in the playoff picture. That largely depends on the play of Zach Wilson. He didn’t play in New York’s 34-13 loss to the visiting Dolphins on Nov. 24. The Dolphins suffered a searing 28-27 setback to Tennessee on Monday in which they allowed 15 points in a 51-second span in the fourth quarter. The high-powered Miami offense that ranks No. 1 in total offense (423.6 yards per game) and No. 2 in scoring (31.6 points per game) was severely hampered with Hill (league-high 1,542 receiving yards) hobbled. Miami QB Tua Tagovailoa was sacked a season-worst five times while completing 23 of 33 passes for 240 yards. “It’s the NFL, anything can happen,” said Tagovailoa, who leads the NFL with 3,697 passing yards. “We got to do a better job finishing the game with the time we had, while we had the ball.” Miami has won 10 of the past 12 meetings.
New York Giants (5-8) at New Orleans Saints (6-7): The New York Giants have won three games in a row, and the Saints have lost three of four games. The Giants have a path to the wild card, while the Saints can still win the NFC South. The final margin has been eight points or less in eight of New Orleans’ games this season. Six of the Giants’ losses have been by 15 or more points, but rookie quarterback Tommy DeVito has given the team a lift during his four starts. Wide receiver Wan’Dale Robinson said DeVito’s happy-go-lucky demeanor in the locker room masks “a stone-cold killer” on the field. An undrafted rookie, DeVito completed 17 of 21 passes for 158 yards and a touchdown in Monday’s win vs. the Packers. He has not thrown an interception in his last 87 passes, and he was not sacked by Green Bay after being sacked 26 times in the previous four games.
Houston Texans (7-6) at Tennessee Titans (5-8): C.J. Stroud couldn’t get back to the field from a concussion that knocked him out of last week’s loss to the Jets, which means Davis Mills gets the call for Houston in a must-win matchup. The Texans are in a tight race in the AFC South with the Jaguars (8-5) and Colts (7-6), who play Saturday. But Stroud is one of several key players not available in Week 15, including WR Nico Collins and pass rusher Will Anderson Jr. The Titans are on a high after Monday’s rally and win at Miami, 28-27, and trying to sneak back into the South division title race. Mills has 26 career starts for the Texans, but is 5-20-1.
Kansas City Chiefs (8-5) at New England Patriots (3-10): Testy following a fourth loss in six weeks, the Chiefs are taking nothing for granted these days. Kansas City is coming off a heartbreaking 20-17 setback against the Buffalo Bills and leads the Broncos by just one game in the division. Head coach Andy Reid proclaimed a rosy outlook for KC with the team in control of its postseason path. For the first time in weeks, the Patriots have reason to be optimistic, too. New England ended a five-game skid with a 21-18 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers on Dec. 7. Bailey Zappe shined in his fourth career NFL start, throwing for three touchdowns in the first half, and the Patriots’ defense took care of the rest. Zappe provided a much-needed spark to a New England offense that had scored a total of 13 points over the previous three games. The contest will mark the first time in league history that opposing coaches both have 250-plus career wins. The total of 556 victories for Bill Belichick (301) and Reid (255) will top the 496 total for the Miami Dolphins’ Don Shula and the Dallas Cowboys’ Tom Landry on Nov. 22, 1987.
San Francisco 49ers (10-3) at Arizona Cardinals (3-10): Cardinals QB Kyler Murray is dealing with a thumb injury but determined to prove the Cardinals’ trust in him is warranted. The 49ers are the first team to clinch a playoff spot and bring a five-game winning streak during which they have outscored opponents 162-65 to Arizona for QB Brock Purdy’s homecoming game. Purdy is from Gilbert, Ariz., about 40 miles from State Farm Stadium. Well beyond proving-ground stages, Purdy deflected talk about NFL MVP buzz this week. “I’m trying to do what I can for this team, for this Sunday, and for this practice or this meeting. I’m not getting caught up in awards and stuff like that,” he said. “If anything, I look at it more as a team award. I have a great surrounding cast. I’ve got guys around me that are all making plays, a great defense, great special teams. And so that’s a testament to the team that I have.” With wins by 23 points over the Philadelphia Eagles and by 32 over the Dallas Cowboys (both also are 10-3), the 49ers will earn the only first-round bye in the NFC if they win out.
Washington Commanders (4-9) at Los Angeles Rams (6-7): An overtime loss at Baltimore on a walkoff punt return put a dent in the Rams’ playoff push thanks in large part to a previous loss to the Green Bay Packers (6-7) that might haunt them down the stretch. The Rams have a schedule conducive to making a playoff push. Their next three games — Washington, New Orleans, New York Giants — are all against losing teams. Only a season-ending trip to San Francisco could be described as daunting, and the 49ers might be resting players that day, depending on their playoff positioning. The Rams’ offense is certainly playing at a postseason level, scoring 104 points in the last three games. They had 410 yards and 31 points last week in Baltimore as Matthew Stafford threw for 294 yards and three scores while Kyren Williams rushed for 114 yards on 25 carries. Washington coach Ron Rivera, whose job status appears to be in jeopardy even if the team finishes strongly, is stressing the need for a more complete performance on the road. QB Sam Howell had done an admirable job keeping the Commanders in games, but has just one touchdown in his past three outings.
Dallas Cowboys (10-3) at Buffalo Bills (7-6): Winners of five in a row, the Cowboys moved into a tie atop the NFC East with the Eagles after posting a 33-13 victory over Philadelphia last Sunday. Dallas averaged a robust 40.2 points a game during its winning streak, and the Cowboys can clinch a playoff berth this Sunday with a win or tie or one of 13 other scenarios. The Bills recorded a statement victory of their own last weekend with a 20-17 decision over the Kansas City Chiefs. Dak Prescott is at the controls of Dallas’ No. 1 scoring offense (32.4 points per game). He has thrown multiple touchdown passes in each of his last seven games to boost his NFL-leading total to 28 this season. Star wideout CeeDee Lamb has reeled in one scoring strike in five consecutive contests. He ranks third in the NFL in catches (96) and in receiving yards (1,253). Cowboys OLB Micah Parsons has 12.5 sacks for the season, and the Cowboys’ fourth-ranked scoring defense (17.9 points a game) is a prime concern for Bills quarterback Josh Allen, who has been sacked just 18 times. Allen, who is tied for second in the NFL with 25 touchdown passes, guides the Bills’ fifth-ranked scoring offense (26.8 points per game).
Baltimore Ravens (10-3) at Jacksonville Jaguars (8-5): Lamar Jackson said he’s more interested in a run for the Lombardi Trophy than MVP, and his top-seeded AFC team can take a big step in that direction when the Ravens visit the Jaguars. Baltimore has a one-game lead over the Dolphins at the top of the conference. There are nine scenarios in which the Ravens can clinch a playoff spot Sunday should they defeat the Jaguars. Jackson was NFL MVP in 2019 and appreciates the praise for his 2023 individual season, which includes 2,934 passing yards and 16 touchdown throws. He also has 644 yards and five scores on the ground. But Baltimore hasn’t won a playoff game since the 2020 season, and Jackson is focused on changing that. “It’s an honor just being acknowledged — to be in the conversation with great guys,” he said. “But I’m just trying to stay locked in trying to win, because I want (the Lombardi) trophy.” Jackson is coming off a superb performance in which he passed for 316 yards and three touchdowns and tacked on 70 rushing yards in last week’s 37-31 overtime home win over the Los Angeles Rams.
–Monday game
Philadelphia Eagles (10-3) at Seattle Seahawks (6-7): Despite back-to-back losses, the Eagles are still tied for first place in the NFC East and in contention for the conference’s top playoff seed. With four consecutive defeats, the Seahawks have gone from atop the NFC West to needing to make up ground for a wild-card playoff berth. The schedule over the past month has been difficult for both teams. The Eagles defeated Kansas City and Buffalo, then lost to San Francisco and Dallas, allowing the host Cowboys to pull into a first-place tie in the division with a 33-13 victory last Sunday night. The Eagles have games against Seattle and Arizona (3-10) and two against the New York Giants (5-8) remaining. The Seahawks have lost twice in the past three weeks to the division-leading 49ers, including 28-16 last Sunday in Santa Clara, Calif., as Drew Lock started in place of injured quarterback Geno Smith (groin). Seattle’s skid is its longest since Pete Carroll took over as coach in 2010.
–Field Level Media
